Vessel charging apparatus



.vm 28, 195s 2,821,377 VESSEL CHARGING .APARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 4,4 1956 `INVENTOR. I vy Han;l L. McFeqfers B 2 fg, Am

H/ s ATTORNEYS In, illurfu Jan. 28, 1958 Filed April 4. 1956 H. L. MGFEATERS 2,821,377

VESSEL. CHARGING APPARATUS Y 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR. Harry L McFeaters H/ S A TTORNE YS H. L. McFEATx-:Rs 2,821,377 VESSEL CHARGING APPARATUS `Ian. 28, 1958 Filed April 4, 1956 5 Shee'tS-Sheet 5 F l g. 5 INVENTOR. Harry L. McFeafers HIS ATTORNEYS Jam 28, 1958 H. L. MCFEATERS 2,821,377

VESSEL CHARGI'NG APPARATUS Filed April 4, 195e 5 sheets-sheet 4 l 12 5OC\ i 480 6 I 5| \ll E u 48C k 520 52 L l1| 50a L 48 @i ,A il,

| n 54 l l i i 1L F l g. 7 55o g 53 I h' 24 1J i 52a ih K 1 49 48o INVENTOR.

5| i 5 i 48C Harry L. McFealers l'ul 50cj 1l A K50a BY/mjf 4% H/S ATTORNEYS Jan. 28, 1958 l-l. Ll. MGFEATERS VESSEL CHARGING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 4. 1956 IN VEN TOR. Harry L. Mel-'eaters H/s A rrloRy/vs rs `ato the rening fvessel. y,tioned so fthat it'willmot beaburntfoutzin aas'hort time,

United States Patent VESSEL CHARGING PPARTUS -FHarry` L. `lMolieaters, E'New Castle, Pa., iassignor 'to Pennsylvania Engineering Corporation, New Castle,vPa., a corporation ofzPennsylvania Application April 4, 1956,i Serial N0..57.6,'065

$161'Clims. -.'(Cl. 2156-34) This invention` pertains to apparatus"forprocessing 'or refiningmetal `and 'particularly, .to A'apparatus iemployed "Torfeeiling gas vsuch as `oxygen'intoa vessel'in'the oxygen Aing vesseland tomeans which will-close-:and openabout 'thetbe to support `and-releaseit during processing of lnzraterial iin "the vessel.

"'lliis Capplication is a continuation-impart ofmy copeniiingapplication "Serial No 5073631, filed "May '1'1, `l955,"and entitled"*Charg`ing Apparatus. -Inthe `disn closure-of such applicatiomlhave-discussed a-processof steel making 4which Ainvolves introducing oxygen Vgas through a lance `or 'tube downwardlylinto aproeessing vessel ithrough its open mouth. vIn this manner, the

v#charge"isfqu'ildly 7antieffectively'rened Tn sucht-'applii'eationfl have'lalso'disclosed*thefconstruction oa-"slitable tube or lance and of an overheadlhoist-or crane structure iforeemployment with clamping apparatus.

llt 'iscontemplatedf that nlsuchaan overhead i structure will fire' employed iwith fthe :improved guide 1 and :clamp I'means :of fthe'fpresent invention. It Iwill `also be Inoted 'that 1a ilance-or=tube (suchasdisclosetllin my copendingfappli iimpmtant'toslocatezitsrdischargeforilower endiinasuitable crelatiuns'hipwithzthe charge .nfzmaterial and Nvith irespect 'lhatzis, the tube :fshnld fbe Afposibut such that the oxygen streamcwill aeiecti-vclyneline y:the metal tin zanninimum Ltime sand withazminimum of tpickup `fof .deleterious gases tor substances. L'llhef lance `cor ztube :should the located :,suiciently below .he -mouth Viotithe vcssehto :prevent-thezaspiration of iairzand tthus, :the

@build-.up of nitrogen @within the batch.

In iremploying va ylance `or 'oxygen itube in `.connection with sa `converter vessel, .as -well aas 'with an fassociated collectorV hood Kiorlhe hot gases and umes,.means must the V,Intnvded for )pening Vand closing 4theguiding :and clamping means, for swinging itiout of the .way whenthe hood is.to be used .or ythe converter is tofbey charged,tand

or reta'iningjt in a desired vertical andcentere'drelationship within the vessel during the refining or 'blowing tstep. "`I havedetermined 'that'the clamping'ancl-gu'iding `means 'or vapparatus `:should Vbe lpositive in its holding 'acftion land =eas`ily'-rleasb1e,but `at thelsame time, should grip with la Asensitive lIandfsubstantially uniform gripping iaction, =such :fas Ito avoid misaligning fthe Stube -or `in iintroduc'ing unnecessary r stresses or strains which `may itend to distort zit runder the zintenseiheat :to which .it mayrhe .subjected.

:I't'has thusibcen-.an=object1of my invention tto provide tant-,improved formsof .charging Aor processing apparatus v.for a rrefining lvessel;

Another obejct has :been to .devise `ausofcalled lance' clamphaving an improved operating action and an im- N Patented Jan. 28, l.1.958

proved holding Aor .clamping action -wtihrespect :to fthe lanceg vA1further object of my invention has been to provide a-clamp apparatus .which is `constructed toprovide sub- 5 .,stantiallyan evenV-agrip-.at its top land bottom portions, .which 1 is vadjustable vin substantially. all directions, and.- is .exible in its utilization;

VTheseand othei-objects .of my invention-will appearto those skilledin the...art. from the description .andtthe .show- ,ing ,of.,an..illustrated embodiment thereof.

.lnfthe drawings,

.'-Figure 41..is a .top plan viewlofmy apparatusofmy invention showing ,its relative positioning with trespect to. arprocessing `vessel .andan Aexhaust.hoodilorihearmuth thereof;

Figurefl is.a side ,elevation .of Yclamp :apparatus -r ,structure ,of "Figure Al and `on Vthe scale `ofsuch ligure, 'illustrating it .inra ,guiding Aand Ypositioning relationship ,withgrespect .to a lance tube; ithe full Ilines .show `the apparatus in .litsV downor Qperatingaposition and ,the .dot anfd dash'1ines.,`show2it in a'raised or upwardly-swung withdrawmposition;

',Figure'is a topplan view. on an enlarged -scale with respect to Figures 1 and"2; it `shows clampingjawslin a .closedrelation'ship and a tiltingadjustment of a frame or housing for the clamping apparatus;

V,Figure 4 is also atop plan view ofthe apparatus of 'my invention on'the same scale as Figure 3, showing its `clampingfjawsin `a losedposition and its'housing or ."frame inasubstantilly aligned relationship with respect "to its'support'deek; itswill'belnoted that,v in .Figure '31,` a nswing "adjustmenthas been made between the housing vandthedeck'supportto provide asubstantially obligue relationship;

` CFigure 'Slis'a frontend elevation'takenlongthellines V-V of Figures l "and 4 `and of 'the scale "of Figure '4;

"Figure 'f6 "is l'a top plan View similar to Figure 4, but -showing the 'clamping jaws *in -a "fully iopen relationship "and the corresponding-positioning of the'operatingparts V"for-such ijaws;

Figure 7 `is fan end 'view in elevation 'taken along lthe lineVII-VIT of F-igure 4 andfon' the 1sarnetscale'asI such figures "Figure 8 'is Aa fragmental 1 section Itaken `along the "line WH-"VH1 l'olF'Figure'4 'and onthe samescale'as such igureyan'd Figures-9, l0 and "ll *areufra'gm'ental sections ftken 'respeetively along -the lines IX--IX, 'X-iX, land -ofl'igure'irand'on theasamescale as lsuch fgure.

The `apparatus '110 #shown :has ia r clamping 4'platform wvhiiclzisvertieallly `svv'ingable'vatitsinner endsfon or about a hoist or crane mechanismll. `The 4apparatusmayfbe lifted forwswungraway'ffrom1a refining or convertingwessel yil?, byfthecrane, itself, andwhichmayfbe lowered-toa 55--f2substantia-lly -horizontal and 'cooperating lrelationship with an :oxygen Elance :tube 'i12 @to #securely and effectively ho'ld and lalign lthe tube lto 'exten'd iwithin i -the vmouth for :opening-,of theivessel. Theapparatus isconstructedfto :provide fa more Vpositive `'clamping iaction on` the lance and is adjustable inits positioning'ffortake'pup Pandwwear :as swellias'liforiaiproperialigned relationship, eanduitsvvar- .ions lparts, dneluding `itsdnntor, Vare^adjustable `tsozas'tto `'meet all nequrements :ofzzsnch a @.utilization. :The clever :or operating arrangementifor` actuating'fthe jaws :provides .a toggle.- action afer =.a i rm.gr ip on fthe dance. :A 'l hinged ,or nswingingqplatlorm @has lfatzdeck so thatit tisiaccessible -for inspection .by fan operator.

Referring-toliguresflto 6vof thedrawings, andparticularly to Figure 6, the arrowline a:.shows:the,pat-h=.of movementof .the .lance .l2-.with respecttothejaws .and "b ,shows,1he..5.0 -swing or arc represented between .the opened and closed positions of the jaws. Referring parthe outline of an oxygen vessel to show the positioned arrangement of the clamping apparatus with respect to and above the vessel. An exhaust hood 14 is also illustrated and is shown as having a flange 15 and an offset 15a to bypass the jaws of my construction in its movement into and out of a gas-receiving relationship with respect to the mouth of the converter vessel 13.

Referring to Figures l and 2, a forwardly-projecting horizontal beam member 16 of the hoist frame structure 11 is adapted to project forwardly beyond a pair of vertical upright beam members 17 of the same hoist structure 11. As shown in Figure l, the beams 17 are positioned in a spaced-apart relationship with each other and each carries secured thereon a xed bracket structure 18. The open or bifurcated end of the bracket structure 18 has a pivot pin 19 projecting through its U-shaped fingers to cooperate with and pivot or swing-mount a sleeve 21. The pivot sleeve 21 is integrally carried by an under frame member 20a of a side platform 20 of the apparatus of my invention. Structural frame members, including diagonally-forwardly-projecting I-beam under member 20b, under member 20c, and cover or deck plate 20d, are secured together as by welding to provide the side platform 20.

As shown in Figures l and 2, the forwardly-projecting I-beam member 20b has an eyelet portion 26 to which a suspension chain and turn-buckle assembly 27 is linked. The upper end of the assembly 27 is pivotally connected at 28 to the beam member 16 to support the apparatus 10 in its horizontal or normally-positioned relationship of Figure 2.

Also, as shown in Figure l, the apparatus 10 has an opposite side platform 23 whose under structural member 23a has a swing or pivot sleeve 24 integrally secured thereto and cooperating with pin 19 to swingably suspend it from between the U-shaped lingers of the second fixed bracket structure 18. The platform 23 is constructed to support a man and may be made up of suitable reinforcing or under frame members, such as diagonal member 23b which is secured between members 20b and 23a to form an integral structure therewith. A cover or deck plate member 23d is secured ou the structural members and not only provides a platform for inspection by an operator, but also provides a platform for the adjustable support of my clamping apparatus and its upper housing, frame or platform structure 33. The latter provides an adjustable deck or platform for interleaving clamping jaws orfngers, for their operating connections, and for actuating or motivating means.

As shown in Figures 4 to 6 and 8, a secondary platy form or plate member 30 carries the structure 33, rests between the members 23d and 30.

Since the secondary platform member 30 carries an acutating motor 70, operating connections, jaws, etc., of my apparatus, it is apparent that a lengthwise adjustment of the member 30 by means of the bolts 31 and slots 30a with respect to the deck member 23d will adjust the relationship of all the apparatus 33 or means carried on the member 30. As shown in Figure 4, upright support members 37a, 37b and 37e are welded to and space the A plate members 34 and 35.

The endwise adjustment of and the secure holding of l an adjusted relationship of the secondary platform memto abut against a vertical abutment piece 36. The mountn desired.

ber 30 is accomplished by a threaded, longitudinal adjustment screw 45, see Figures 4 and 6. The head or inner end of the screw 45 is secured as by weld metal to an upright end plate 46 which is welded to a back edge of the platform member 30 to project upwardly as an integral part thereof. An L or angle bracket 44 is secured to project upwardly from the primary deck 23 and has a hole therein to loosely receive the stem 45. Adjustment is effected by means of a pair of opposed threaded nuts 47 which cooperate with the bracket 44 for this purpose.

The upper operating housing or frame 33 is made up of a lower plate member 34 and an upwardly spacedapart and similarly horizontally-extending upper plate member 35. The lower member 34 rests directly on the secondary platform 30 and is pivotally mounted thereon, as shown in Figures 6 and 8, by a pivot-pin bolt assembly 38. Since the lower threaded end of the pin 38 is secured to the platform member 30, and since its upper enlarged portion receives the lower member 34 of the housing 33, it will be apparent that the housing 33 may be swung or laterally-adjusted about the pivot pin as In this connection, I have provided a pair of lateral adjustment screws 41 and 42.

One screw 41 on one side of the housing 33 has a bolt head or wrench flat 41b for adjusting it. It has a threaded stem portion 41a that adjustably projects through an upright mounting block 40a, carries an adjustment lock nut 41C, and has a clamping head portion 41d at its inner end ing plate 40a is secured (see Figure 9) as by weld metal to the secondary platform member 30 as is a similar mounting plate member 40b for opposed adjustment screw 42. The piece 36, as shown in Figure 9, is secured as by weld metal between the upper and lower members 35 and 34 of the housing 33.

Adjustment screw 42 has a threaded outer end portion 42a that adjustably extends through mounting block 40b, and is locked in an adjusted relationship by nut 42e. Inner abutment end portion 42d is adapted to oppose the lportion 41d of the adjustment member or element 41 and abut against the abutment member 36. A study of Figures 8 and 9 from the standpoint of Figures 3 and 4 discloses that the stems 41 and 42 may be adjusted to hold the housing 33 in a fully aligned position, such as shown in Figure 6, or to swing it on its pivot pin 38 to form a diagonal relationship, such as shown in Figure 3. The 4end of the element 42 will preferably have a slot to receive a screwdriver.

The apparatus of my invention has a pair of fixed jaws 48a and a pair of swing or moving jaws 50a which are adapted to close with respect to each other and at their concave portions 48b and 50b, receive and clamp a lance yjaws 50a are bifurcated at their inner end portions 50c to fit over a vertical head or cross bar member 49. Pin and cotter pin assemblies 51 pivotally mount the bifurcated portions of the lingers on a bar member 49. A saddle 52 centrally ts over the vertical bar member 49 and is pivotally mounted thereon by pin and cotter pin assembly 54. The saddle member 52 has a pair of threaded mounts 52a, each of which receives a screw adjusted assembly 53. The latter are employed to equalize and tighten the jaws as linkage wears, in that (as shown in -Figure 7) the inner ends of the bolts 53 abut against the bar member 49. In this way, the pivoted relationship may be adjusted about the pin assembly 54 by means agee-15,317

of: the adjustment boltsf53 after tighteningforpositionlock nuts153zz havebeenfloosened4 The saddle member;52Lhas=a=lpair1oh vertically spacedapart angularly-projecting Imounting arnrtportionsvSZb F) carrya fixed;pivot-or'stubfshafttST. The shaft157 is. at its upper' andl lowerI ends:journaled` withinhbearing sleeves 56' and 56 that are carried-by-theJ upperhand lower members i5-andi1342` llniadtlition: to beingi'rotatably mounted? withrespect.' to the arm portions-521:1',` the=shaft 57' is-` securedtwith respect'toJt-he't housing 33- byv-a latch key 55?V and bo1t55a.; The.: bolt-55a. tlireadably` projects into the lower memberx34 -while the` key 55'? project laterally into4 aI gr-oovein the` shaft 577;

The saddljei member 522 (-seey Figurel 51) `also -has: an intermediate and backwardly-projecting arm portionf 52e (see also Figure 4) which is pivoted by pin 60 to a pair of upper. and lower linl -s6` 1andlthrough a: pin 62 to a drive arm member 63. Asshown particularly in Figures 4, 6, 8 and 1^1', the member 63Y has a collar portion6'3a to rotatablyreceive astub sha-ftv 65j. The shaft 65-` is secured by keyy latch (i6-and belt-` means1 66a to the structure ofl 3?'` andY particularly, to the upper memberf35. Als shown i'n- Figure l1, inset upper-and lower sleeve-bearings 64`- and 64 are carried bythe' collar portion 63a to rotatably or pivotally mount member on or about the shaft 65.

A dual-acting or two-way iiuid motor 70 (see particularly Figures 4 to 6) has trunnions 70a` that project vertically from its upper and lower sides and cooperates with upper and lower split collar assemblies 71 and 71 to mount the motor 70 as a unit between the upper and lower members 35 and 34 and thus, as a part of the housing 33. The bolts 71a secure the two parts of the collar assemblies 71 and 71' in position with each other. The back portion of the assemblies 71 and 71' are, as shown in Figure 5, secured as by welding to the members 35 and 34.

Fluid is exhausted and supplied alternately to ow channels or passages 70a and 70b of the motor 70 to move its piston rods 69 forwardly and backwardly as desired. The rod 69 carries a bifurcated end portion 69a that has a toggle adjustment 69h. Headed pin 68 pivotally secures 69a to a side portion of the actuating arm member 63.

In operation, when as shown in Figure 6, the piston rod 69 is withdrawn within its motor 70 by the application of positive fluid pressure to the passage 70a and the utilization of passage 70b as for exhaust, then the jaws 48a and 50a are in their open position with respect to each other. It will be noted that this opening is etected by the swinging action of saddle 52 on pivot shaft 57 while being actuated through links 61 and actuating arm member 63. The member 63 is, in turn, actuated about its pivot shaft 65 by the piston rod 69. When the piston rod 69 is moved to its extended position of Figure 4 by applying positive iiuid pressure to passageway 70b and exhausting fluid from 70a, then the relative positions of the members 52, 61 and 63 is, as shown in Figures 4 and 5.

Referring particularly to Figures 5 and 7, it will be seen that the jaws 48a have an inwardly offset or slotted portion 48c which receives finger portions of the jaws 50a of the swing pair. When the jaws are moved to a closing relationship with each other, an interleaving, overlapping or cross-over fit between their tingers (see Figure 4) is provided to more positively hold the tube or lance 12 in the position of Figure 7 and in a more accurately aligned relationship within the converter vessel 13.

In addition to making the apparatus fully accessible by placing platforms on its side deck structures and 6 videtequalclampingiat-its@ top l andi bottomsportionsl.. The supporting: structure fon the clampingy A apparatus which incltldesuheads, levers,links-` and operatingg arms, as-fwell as'.` theymot'm housing or.I cylinder; Y ist:` adjustabley irr allT directions, so that tl"lelar1-cc-.Y 112? may be fwitliiizran areaof aboutiy six incheswradius-iirf-itswclampedposition; The `consttfuctionl provides,I Aal somewhat universal7l adjustment inrallt directions Althought. for #simplifieddescription; lhave'not i`n-tliis application#specifically-v disclosed automaticl means for actuating the motor 70 for the pair' of swingt or pivot jaws-50a, itswillihe' apparenti that an`-.electric-fluid'` system may bevemployedlsuclras disclesedl infFi'gurea 8r of"y the drawi'n'gsof Amy co-p'end'ng application; That* is; the lance-'1f2 may, assliown'iir such co-pendingy application, havea projecting ledgerwhicli; when;- itili's in aA proper relationship'wvitla--tri'p -means, will actuatex thesystem tof close t-liey pairsoff' jaws with respect` to each otherto guide and clamp'- the` lance'12" along faces 48h Av and: 50`b lofftlief jawfpars; Alsogfifidesired, such'a systemmaybe employed totrais'eandlower the lance-'12" as` suspended fr'omritsb'a'ilI 731 (-see-"Figure2)", andptoV open the* jaws before the lance 12 i's tou bei` raised outl of t position from within the vessel:V I3'.

What-IJ claim is l. An improved apparatus for clamping a vertical tube member and aligning it with respect to the mouth of a vessel which comprises, a support structure adapted to project outwardly above the vessel, vertically spaced-apart pairs of cooperating clamping jaws carried on said support structure, a head operatively carrying one jaw of each pair for relative movement into and out of an interleaving relationship with respect to the other jaw of the same pair, said head having means to adjust the alignment of the one jaw with the other jaw of each pair and securely hold them in the adjusted relationship, arm portions pivotally carrying opposite vertical portions of said head on said support structure, and operating mechanism adjustably carried on said support structure and operatively connected to said head substantially centrally thereof with respect to said arm portions.

2. Au improved apparatus for clamping a vertical tube member and aligning it with respect to the mouth of a vessel which comprises, a support structure adapted to project outwardly above the vessel, vertically spacedapart pairs of cooperating clamping jaws carried on said support structure, a head pivotally carrying one jaw of each pair for relative movement into and out of an interleaving relationship with respect to the other jaw of the same pair, a saddle member pivotally-adjustably mounted on said head, a pair of vertically spaced-apart integral arms pivotally carrying said saddle member on said support structure, `and actuating mechanism positioned on said support structure and operatively connected to said saddle member to swing said head and thus swing the one jaw of each pair into and out of an interleaving relationship with the other jaw thereof.

3. A clamping swing jaw construction which comprises, a pair of spaced-apart jaw members, a crosshead pivotally supporting said jaw members with respect to each other, a saddle member pivotally mounted on said crosshead and projecting therefrom, means adjustably positioned between said crosshead and said saddle member to securely hold said saddle member in an adjusted position with respect to its pivot mounting, an actuating motor, and means operatively connecting said motor through said saddle member to swing said jaw members into and out of a clamping relationship.

4. A clamping jaw construction which comprises, a support platform, a pair of vertically spaced-apart jaws mounted on said platform and having offset portions, a second pair of vertically spaced-apart jaws pivotally mounted on said platform and having offset portions that are substantially complementary with offset portions of said first-mentioned pair to interfit therewith and "it 23, a greatly improved clamping action is obtained to more positively grip the lance 12. The clamping areas "jl have been spread apart as to the jaw pairs that move into "iliand out of a cooperating relationship with each other.

"tOne side 49 of the clamp apparatus is adjustable to pro- 75 clamp about an article to project the article therefrom in a vertically-extending and aligned relationship, a crosshead for said second pair of jaws, said second pair of .jaws being pivotally mounted on opposite end portions of said crosshead, an operating saddle pivotally mounted on said crosshead and having means securely holding it in an adjusted relationship as to its pivot mounting, and actuating means operatively connected through said saddle and crosshead to said second pair of jaws to move them into and out of a cooperating relationship with the first-mentioned pair of jaws.

5. A clamping jaw construction which comprises, a support platform, a pair of vertically spaced-apart jaws mounted on said platform and having offset portions, a

'second pair of vertically spaced-apart jaws pivotally mounted on s aid platform and having offset portions that are substantially complementary with the oiset portions of said first-mentioned pair to interlit therewith and clamp an article in a vertically-extending relationship therefrom, actuating means operatively connected to said second pair of jaws to move them into and out of a cooperating clamping relation with said first-mentioned pair, a secondary platform positioned on said first-mentioned platform, and said second pair of jaws and said actuating means yand operating connections therebetween being vmounted'on'said secondary platform, and means to adjust such secondary platform laterally and pivotally with respect to said first-mentioned platform.

I ,6. An improved clamping construction which comlbase platform pivotally mounting said second-mentioned platform, operating and supporting connections for said .second pair of jaws carried by said first platform, and

means on said first platform for actuating said second vpair of jaws through said operating and supporting connections.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,645,372 Broersma July 14, 1953 2,676,052 Mittry Apr. 20, 1954 2,706,060 Ferrario et al. Apr. 12, 1955 2,754,018 Schroeder July 10, 1956 2,755,949 Schenkelberger July 24, 1956 

